Permanent or Portable?

Permanent

Permanently installed generators operate automatically when the power fails. You don’t have to be awake or even home. This keeps your heater and sump pumps running, which prevents floods and freeze ups. These types of generators run on either natural gas or propane. If you already have natural gas, the generator is connected to the existing line. If not, a propane tank is installed that is sized to run your generator for several days without a refill.

Installed generators exercise themselves each week, by automatically running for several minutes. This keeps the internal parts lubricated and lets the controls test the operation to insure the generator is ready to go when needed.

You can have a permanently installed generator, which comes in a range of sizes, for little more than the cost of a portable generator.

A permanently installed generator will provide power to keep your home warm and dry, your food frozen and cool, and your family safe by powering fire and security systems, and keep your lighting, TV and microwaves running. Permanent generators come in a range of sizes, and they can large enough to run your whole house.

Portable

Portable generators can be inconvenient. The power always seems to go out when it’s raining or snowing or dark, and that’s a bad time to be outside trying to hook up and start the generator that has been sitting in the shed for months. Plus, it is easy to forget that you need to go out and start that portable generator every month. Forgetting means it won’t start when it’s needed most.

It is critical that portable generators be connected to your home or business electrical system correctly. Some “temporary” connection methods (such as using the dryer outlet or wiring directly to the electrical panel) can cause fires and even explosions if the power comes back on while the generator is running. At a minimum, let us install a manual transfer switch that prevents both utility and generator power from reaching your electrical system at the same time. Preferably, the manual transfer switch will be part of a critical load panel that allows only those circuits that you consider most important to draw power from the generator. This keeps the generator from being overloaded and shutting down or even being damaged.